Monday, November 9, 2009
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Secretary-General of ASEAN, expressing concern over the escalation of tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, has appealed to both countries to exercise maximum restraint.
Based on written information from the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Saturday, Dr Surin Pitsuwan also urged the ASEAN Foreign Ministers to assist the two ASEAN Member States to settle their bilateral dispute amicably and as soon as possible.
Dr Surin, in a letter to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers dated Friday, 6 November 2009, informed them that he has received many inquiries and expressions of concern from ASEAN`s Dialogue Partners and friends over the apparent deterioration of relations between Cambodia and Thailand, as evidenced in the recalling of their Ambassadors earlier this week.
Noting that the dispute could damage the credibility of ASEAN, Dr Surin said, "We in ASEAN can not be seen apart even more so before the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting and the upcoming historic meeting between the ASEAN-US Leaders in Singapore this month."
Dr. Surin pointed out that in line with the spirit of the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 1976, all of the other member countries in ASEAN are required to offer assistance to fellow Member States to help resolve bilateral disputes.
Article 16 of the TAC in particular to provide other State Parties to offer "all possible assistance" to help resolve bilateral disputes that could threaten regional stability and regional harmony.
Moreover, the article further stipulated that parties to the dispute should be well disposed towards such offers of assistance. he added.(*)
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